Hiking near Tàrbena

The Costa Blanca is pre-eminently a paradise for hikers.
Tàrbena is the ideal starting point for the most beautiful walks in Spain.

Hiking & Walking Holidays in the Costa Blanca — Explore Nature Beyond the Coast

When people think of the Costa Blanca, they often picture sandy beaches and seaside resorts like Calpe, Altea and Jávea. But just inland lies one of Spain’s most scenic hiking destinations, with rugged mountain ranges, picturesque valleys and ancient walking trails that attract hikers and active holiday-seekers from across Europe.

The Costa Blanca, especially the Marina Alta and Marina Baixa regions, offers an extraordinary landscape for active travel — from gentle nature walks to challenging mountain hikes. With over 320 days of sunshine per year and a mild Mediterranean microclimate, walking holidays here can be enjoyed almost all year round.

Why Hiking in the Costa Blanca Is Special

  • Diverse Terrain: mountain trails, river gorges, rolling green hills and traditional farmland paths

  • Spectacular Views: panoramas over the Mediterranean from ridges and high passes

  • Rich Nature & Wildlife: aromatic herbs, flowering orchards, birds of prey and sometimes wild goats

  • Easy Access: within a few hours from major European airports and well connected by road

This combination makes the Costa Blanca an ideal destination for walking holidays, active mountain breaks and self-guided hiking tours — whether you’re a beginner or seasoned hiker.

Can Elisa — Your Hiking Base in the Heart of Costa Blanca Nature

Located in the traditional mountain village of Tàrbena, Can Elisa is perfectly positioned for hiking and walking holidays in the Costa Blanca interior. Tàrbena is nestled among the Sierra de Bernia, Serra del Ferrer and is close to routes that lead to villages like Bolulla, Benissa, Parcent, Alcalalí and Guadalest — each offering its own scenic trails and cultural highlights.

From our doorstep you can explore:
🌄 Bernia Circular Walk — iconic ridge route with breathtaking coastal views
🌲 Forat de Bernia — a classic coastal-mountain pass walk
🚶 Ruta de los Almendros — cherry and almond orchards in spring
🏞️ Barranc de l’Infern (Valley of Hell) near Vall de Laguar — dramatic gorges and waterfalls
👣 Font Roja Natural Park (near Alcoy) — sublime Mediterranean forest hiking

These routes vary from easy nature walks to moderate mountain treks, perfect for day hikes or multi-day walking holidays with stunning scenery.

What You Can Expect on Your Walking Holiday

At Can Elisa, we love exploring the Costa Blanca trails ourselves — often with our doga Lola and Jorge by our side — and regularly add new, locally-tested hiking routes to our recommendations. Guests can enjoy:

✅ Detailed hiking maps and route suggestions
✅ Leaflets with local walking paths
✅ Tips for both self-guided and GPS-assisted hikes — we recommend Wikiloc for offline route maps and elevation profiles.

Whether you’re planning a walking holiday, a nature hike with panoramic views, or an active senior adventure, our location offers easy access to some of the Costa Blanca’s most memorable trails.

Local Villages & Cultural Highlights Along the Trails

Part of the joy of hiking here is combining nature with authentic Spanish villages and culture:

🏘️ Guadalest — hilltop fortress village with historic castle views
🍷 Jalón Valley (Xaló) — vineyards, wine tasting and agricultural terraces
🌳 Parcent & Alcalalí — olive and citrus groves with scenic walking paths
📍 Benissa & Calpe — coastal towns perfect for post-hike relaxation

These destinations enrich your walking holiday by offering local gastronomy, traditional architecture and panoramic views — all within easy reach of scenic hiking paths.

Seasonality & Best Times to Hike

Thanks to the Mediterranean microclimate, hiking in the Costa Blanca is enjoyable from late autumn through spring and into early summer. Mild winter temperatures and abundant sunshine make it a fantastic off-season hiking destination when other European regions are cold or wet.

Hike: Tàrbena – Sarroxa & Benipla – 4,5 km

The hiking route to Sarroxa and Benipla starts from Tarbena (5 minutes from Can Elisa) and is 4.5 km long. Behind the village you start with a steep climb and after a quarter of an hour you can enjoy the first view from where you look at Altea, Benidorm the sea and the mountains Puig Campana and Aitana.
More info

Hike: Tàrbena – Sa Caseta des Moros – 3 km

Tàrbena has also been occupied, the Castillo is one of the structures that reminds us of this. From the Castillo you have a unique view of the village, the surrounding valleys and the mountains in the distance. The walk to the Castillo starts from the parking lot in the village and is 3 km long. The walk is uphill and you walk in 1.5 hours (back and forth).

More info

Hike: Tàrbena – CV146 – 11 km

The CV146 is a new route set out by the Town Hall, the route starts and ends in the village of Tarbena (5 minutes from our house). The total length is 11 km and can be walked in 3 hours, with breaks you are then a short 4 hours on the road.

More info

Hike: Tàrbena- Sa Cova de Dalt – 1,77 km

15 min from Can Elisa you can find Sa Cova de Dalt. The cave is located in the Bijauca area, just past Tàrbena, on the route to Castell de Castells. The cave dates from the neolithic period (new stone age) 4000-2500 BC.

Meer info

Hike: Bolulla – Raco Roig – 7,62 km

At a quarter of an hour from Can Elisa you will find Raco Roig, a walk of 7.5km. Due to the limited increase in this route, the walk is suitable for hikers of all levels.

More info

Hike: Altea la Vella – Fort y Forat de Bernia – 9,5-12,5 km

Bernia, a mountain separating the Marina Alta from the Marina Baja, is perhaps one of the most famous mountains in the region. Not for nothing, the mountain offers besides natural beauty, a tunnel through the mountain also a piece of history in the form of a medieval fortress.

More info